Rolling element on moving surface toy



June 16, 1964 H. c. HENDERSON, JR

ROLLING ELEMENT ON MOVING SURFACE TOY Filed Sept. 11, 1961 HENRY c.HENDERSON, JR.

FIG. 4

United States Patent 3,137,506 ROLLING ELElvENT 0N MOVING SURFACE TOYHenry C. Henderson, Jr., 1754 E. Sycamore, El Segundo, Calif. FiledSept. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 137,191 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-109) This inventionrelates generally to amusement devices and more particularly to a noveltoy in which a degree of coordination and skill is required to use thetoy.

A primary object of this invention, accordingly, is to provide a noveltoy which not only is amusing but presents a challenge to the userinsofar as his coordination is concerned.

Another object is to provide a coordination toy which is so designedthat it may be disassembled into a compact structure for easy shippingand storing.

Other more general objects of this invention are to provide a novel toyappealing to persons of all ages which is essentially a self-containedunit not requiring any auxiliary apparatus, which is inexpensive tomanufacture, rugged in construction, and which operates on a principleextremely simple to understand and yet constitutes an engaging challengeto a persons skill.

Briefly, these and many other objects and advantages of this inventionare attained by providing a closed track structure together with a freerolling element, preferably in the form of a ball, on the trackstructure such that the track structure may be tilted to cause the ballto roll therealong.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the track structure isdefined by a pair of spaced parallel members having edges definingsmoothly curved perimeters closing on themselves. At least one portionof the curved perimeters is concave so that when oriented in such amanner that the concave structure faces upwardly, the ball, whenpositioned thereon, is in stable equilibrium. With this arrangement,there is provided an initial starting point for the ball which may beeasily maintained by proper holding of the toy. Rotation of the pair ofspaced members about an axis normal thereto may then be executed in anattempt to cause the ball to roll about the complete circuit defined bythe edges of the members themselves so that the ball may be caused toreturn to its starting point.

Features of the invention include a handle for facilitating manipulationof the track structure and so designed that it may be removed and storedtogether with the ball within the track structure itself to provide acompact unit for easy shipping and storing.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by now referring toa preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the assembled coordination toy of thisinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section taken in the direction of the arrows 2-2 ofFIGURE 1 in which the ball shown in FIGURE 1 has been omitted;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross section taken in the direction of thearrows 3-3 of FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view partly broken away to illustrate the manner inwhich the device may be disassembled for storage.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, the toy comprises first and second fiatmembers and 11 held in spaced parallel relationship by suitablesupporting means 12. As shown, the members have edges defining smoothlycurved perimeters including at least one concave curved portion 13 andat least one convex curved portion 14. Essentially, the edges of themembers when disposed in like orientation as shown define a trackstructure following a boundary closing on itself.

Cooperating with the foregoing described track structure is a freerolling element preferably in the form of a ball 15. The assembly iscompleted by a handle 16 extending normally from the second member 11 asshown. The spacing between the members 10 and 11 is less than thediameter of the ball 15 so that the ball will be properly supported onthe edges of the members as illustrated. Circular openings 17 and 18 areprovided in the first member 11, the purpose for which will be describedsubseqnently.

With the foregoing arrangement, a person may tilt or rotate the members10 and 11 about an axis normal to the planes of the members by holdingthe handle 16 to cause the ball 15 to roll along the edges of themembers. By executing oscillating or back and forth rocking move mentsof the device, the person can cause the ball 15, relative to thestructure, to execute a complete circle about the edges to return to itsinitial starting point. The concave portion 13 of the edges defining thetrack for the ball will hold the ball 15 in stable equilibrium whenfacing upwardly.

With particular reference to FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be noted that thesupport means 12 includes a plurality of rod members secured to thesecond member 11 and extending therefrom towards the first member 10.The member 10 in turn includes a like plurality of cup-shaped structures19 which are bonded to the free ends of the rods 12 to hold the membersin the desired spaced parallel relationship. Preferably, the members areformed from plastic and by a proper extruding process, the rods 12 maybe made integral with the second flat member 11 so that in the assemblyof the structure, it is only necessary to bond the free ends of the rodmembers to the cupshaped structures 19.

In addition to the foregoing, the second member 11 includes an integralcentral boss 20 as shown in FIGURE 3 for reception within a suitablebore 21 within one end of the handle 16. The bore 21 is made tofrictionally engage the boss 20 so that the handle is securely held inposition when forced over the boss but yet may be removed.

In order to facilitate shipping and storage of the device, the openings17 and 18 in the second member 11 are of sufiicient diameter to receivethe ball 15. While two openings are shown, only one opening isnecessary. In the event an extra ball is included with the toy, however,this additional ball would be received within the second openmg.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, the ball 15 is shown positioned within theopening 18. Since the spacing between the members 10 and 11 is less thanthe diameter of the ball, a portion of the ball will extend above thesecond member 11. The degree of extension of the boss 20 is purposelymade such that when it is added to the spacing between the members 10and 11, the total distance is greater than the diameter of the ball 15so that the top portion of the ball 15 extending above the opening 18 isbelow the level of the boss 20.

As also illustrated in FIGURE 4, after the handle 16 has been removedfrom the boss 20, it may be positioned between the members 10 and 11.Thus, the entire structure may be neatly packaged within a container,the outline of which is illustrated by the dashed line 22. The featureof having the end of the boss 20 extend above the level of the ball 15will protect the ball itself during shipping and storage.

In operation, the toy may be removed from its package, the handle 16inserted over the boss 20, and the ball 15 removed from the opening 18and placed on the tracks, preferably in the concave portion 13 asillustrated in 3 FIGURE 1 so that it may be easily held on the trackswhen the concave portion is facing upwardly.

The user, as described heretofore, may then tilt or rotate or in anyother manner rock the members about an axis generally normal to theplane of the members to cause the ball 15 to roll about the trackdefined by the edges of the members it) and 11. A certain degree ofskill and coordination is required to keep the ball 15 on the trackswhile rotating the members thereunder. Thus, there is providing anengaging challenge to persons or" all ages together with an opportunityfor such person to increase his skill and coordination by attempting tomaintain the ball on the track.

While only one particular embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, various modifications that fall clearly within the scope andspirit of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Thecoordination toy is therefore not to be thought of as limited to the onestructure set forth merely for illustrative purposes.

What is claimed is:

1. A coordination toy comprising, in combination; first and second fiatmembers having edges defining smoothly curved congruent perimetersincluding at least one concave curved portion and at least one convexcurved portion; means supporting said members with like orientation inspaced parallel relationship such that said edges define tracks whichclose on themselves; a ball having a given diameter greater than thespacing between said members supported by said tracks for rollingmovement therealong; a handle secured at one end to and extendingnormally from said second flat member to provide a manual holding meansfor manipulating said members whereby said members may be manipulated byrotation about an axis normal to the planes of said members to causesaid ball to roll along said tracks, said second member including acircular opening of diameter greater than said given diameter forreceiving said ball when said toy is not in use and having a bossextending normally therefrom a given distance, said one end of saidhandle including an end bore receivable over said boss in frictionalengagement therewith, said given distance added to the spacing betweensaid members being greater than the diameter of said ball, whereby theportion of said ball extending above said second member when received insaid circular opening is below the level of the end of said boss andwhereby said handle may be removed from said boss and stored betweensaid first and second members to provide a compact configuration forpackaging of said toy.

2. A toy according to claim 1, in which said means supporting saidmembers in spaced parallel relationship comprises a plurality of rodelements extending normally from said second member towards said firstmember; and a like plurality of cup structures secured to said firstmember and bonded to the free ends of said rod elements.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,017,501 Howard Oct. 15, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 188,266 Great BritainNov. 9, 1922 429,146 Germany May 18, 1926

1. A COORDINATION TOY COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION; FIRST AND SECOND FLATMEMBERS HAVING EDGES DEFINING SMOOTHLY CURVED CONGRUENT PERIMETERSINCLUDING AT LEAST ONE CONCAVE CURVED PORTION AND AT LEAST ONE CONVEXCURVED PORTION; MEANS SUPPORTING SAID MEMBERS WITH LIKE ORIENTATION INSPACED PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP SUCH THAT SAID EDGES DEFINE TRACKS WHICHCLOSE ON THEMSELVES; A BALL HAVING A GIVEN DIAMETER GREATER THAN THESPACING BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS SUPPORTED BY SAID TRACKS FOR ROLLINGMOVEMENT THEREALONG; A HANDLE SECURED AT ONE END TO AND EXTENDINGNORMALLY FROM SAID SECOND FLAT MEMBER TO PROVIDE A MANUAL HOLDING MEANSFOR MANIPULATING SAID MEMBERS WHEREBY SAID MEMBERS MAY BE MANIPULATED BYROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS NORMAL TO THE PLANES OF SAID MEMBERS TO CAUSESAID BALL TO ROLL ALONG SAID TRACKS, SAID SECOND MEMBER INCLUDING ACIRCULAR OPENING OF DIAMETER GREATER THAN SAID GIVEN DIAMETER FORRECEIVING SAID BALL WHEN SAID TOY IS NOT IN USE AND HAVING A BOSSEXTENDING NORMALLY THEREFROM A GIVEN DISTANCE, SAID ONE END OF SAIDHANDLE INCLUDING AN END BORE RECEIVABLE OVER SAID BOSS IN FRICTIONALENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, SAID GIVEN DISTANCE ADDED TO THE SPACING BETWEENSAID MEMBERS BEING GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID BALL, WHEREBY THEPORTION OF SAID BALL EXTENDING ABOVE SAID SECOND MEMBER WHEN RECEIVED INSAID CIRCULAR OPENING IS BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE END OF SAID BOSS ANDWHEREBY SAID HANDLE MAY BE REMOVED FROM SAID BOSS AND STORED BETWEENSAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS TO PROVIDE A COMPACT CONFIGURATION FORPACKAGING OF SAID TOY.